Modi set to lead BJP poll campaign, will focus on good governance

Is it now certain that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is set to step into national politics by heading the BJP's campaign committee in the 2014 polls while staying away from being named as the party's prime ministerial candidate?

The Gujarat Chief Minister is set to head the party's poll campaign in 2014 with the focus to remain on good governance, a theme that he had explored during his recent speech in a Delhi college, and is expected to be finalised as the party prepares for its National Executive meetings next month, a report in the Indian Express stated.

And despite them not being on the best of terms, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also reportedly has known of this plan and approves of it.

An eye on the PM's seat? PTI

The move, which is part of the BJP's new poll plan to focus on future plans rather than merely criticising the UPA government, will perhaps lead the party to formulate new strategy it plans in areas like economic growth, security and transparency.

The plan to elevate Modi from state politics to national politics isn't a new one. Soon after he retained the seat of power in Gujarat, rumours had begun to swirl that the BJP leader being likely to head the party's 2014 campaign.

And after making a splash in the media with his speech at the Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi earlier this month, the Gujarat Chief Minister had announced his arrival on the stage of national politics but neither he nor the party has been keen on mentioning whether he will be party's prime ministerial candidate will be in 2014.

But as Firstpost columnist Aakar Patel pointed out in a column earlier, the Gujarat Chief Minister is unlikely to be named as the Prime Ministerial candidate given the polarising effect he's had on allies in the past, but he will encourage the party to contest the next election without anyone being named as a potential prime minister.

What the BJP and Modi can perhaps draw some hope from is the fact that the Congress also seems set to follow a similar strategy with no clear prime ministerial candidate in sight within the party as well, given party vice president Rahul Gandhi has given little indication of throwing his hat into the ring.